Best Red In Tooth And Claw Poems
He Certainly Ain't No Cat
I am a carnivorous feline, red in tooth and claw,
I climb in through the windows and I creep in through the door
And hide in secret places where I can sleep all day.
My owner ain't no secret, he's far too big for that,
He may be a cat lover but he certainly ain't no cat.
I know how to be patient and sneak up on my prey.
One day I snuck up on my owner and hid behind his back
And when he couldn't find me, he hadn't thought of that.
Now he says he wants a dog; well, we shall see about that,
He may be a doggy lover but he certainly ain't no cat
21/4/2016
He was born with 5 others in the cave
at first, blind, small and helpless
relying on his mother for his needs
just a little ball of fur and limbs
Swiftly he grew, doubling in size weekly
now taking an interest in his surroundings
tumbling and rough housing with his siblings
learning all he would need to know
His mother started to bring back prey still alive
so they could practice their catch and kill skills
each day he explored a bit further away
excited by the sights, sounds and smells.
At six months he left his mother and siblings
now he was on his own with territory to find
he was not yet strong enough to fight others
so prime territory, at present, out of question
Becoming nomadic he ranged far and wide
returning sometimes for a day or two
just biding his time as he filled out
the following spring it was now his time.
He returned to the valley and challenged,
soon met by the male who ruled here
they fought very evenly matched for hours
At last our cub was the victor of all
Not knowing that his rival had been his dad
for such is nature, red in tooth and claw
savage yes, but the fittest must survive
To ensure the prosperity of future generations.
I have deliberately not said what animal I wrote this about but left it open to reader
interpretation.
The Leveler
by Michael R. Burch
The nature of Nature
is bitter survival
from Winter’s bleak fury
till Spring’s brief revival.
The weak implore Fate;
bold men ravish, dishevel her . . .
till both are cut down
by mere ticks of the Leveler.
Published by The Lyric, Tucumcari Literary Review, Romantics Quarterly and The Aurorean. Keywords/Tags: nature, survival, bitter, winter, spring, seasons, fate, weak, bold, universe, time, levels, leveler, red in tooth and claw, harsh, hardship